Planet Princeton Holiday Appeal to Benefit Anchor House

Socks, pajamas, shampoo sets and basic art supplies are just some of the items on the wish list this holiday season to meet the needs of some area children who are without.

Anchor House, the Trenton-based shelter for runaway, abused and neglected children and teens, serves kids who often come to them with nothing but maybe a backpack on their backs. The children have either been removed from homes by the state for physical or sexual abuse, or they have escaped a bad home situation by running away and have made their way to the non-profit that provides emergency shelter and, for older teens, longer-term living arrangements and the life skills needed to be independent.

More than a dozen Princeton residents are active participants in the annual Anchor House Ride for Runaways, an event in its 33rd year that raises more than a third of the operating funds to keep the doors of Anchor House open each year. The ride is crucial to Anchor House’s continued success, but it is not enough. Anchor House depends on the support of generous community members, in terms of volunteer time, money, and donated goods, to serve at-risk youths in the community.

We are asking our readers to help us support Anchor House by picking up a few items on the Anchor House wish list if you can. Some of the items like deodorant, body lotion and crayons don’t require a trip to the mall. They are items you can get at your local grocery store. You can drop them off, unwrapped, at three area businesses whose generous owners have offered to serve as drop-off locations for the month of December: Jane, Princeton Center for Yoga & Health, and Montgomery Eye Care.

Please see and share our flyer listing the items on the Anchor House wish list, and more information about dropping them off.

If you would prefer to donate money, we have created a special link to the Anchor House Ride for Runaways website for Planet Princeton. We have been involved with the Ride for Runaways since 2002, and Anchor House has stood by its word to never sell your name or information to another non-profit or to add you to any mailing list for solicitations. You will receive an acknowledgement of your gift for tax purposes and that is it. We would like to raise enough money to help Anchor House purchase some computer equipment and send a few kids to computer classes or summer arts camp.